Slip and Fall Accidents at Big Lots

Slip and fall accidents in retail locations such as Big Lots are common. In fact, they are so common that they are the third leading cause of lost workday injuries in wholesale and retail establishments. While the statistics relate to worker injuries, shoppers and visitors can just as easily slip, fall and sustain injuries as employees. If you or a loved one fell in a Big Lots location and now live with the repercussions of a personal injury, you know this all too well.

Following your accident, you may wonder if the store or its employees could have prevented your harm and, if so, whether you can collect compensation via a personal injury claim. For a definitive answer on whether you have a valid slip and fall claim, the best thing you can do is consult with an attorney who has experience with these types of cases.

Gould Injury Law in Connecticut has not just experience in handling slip and fall cases but also, in taking on big, resource-heavy corporations. We understand what tactics they and their insurers try to use to prevent injured parties from collecting full and fair compensation, and we prepare each case accordingly. Moreover, we have the talent, skills and resources to level the playing field for individuals against corporate giants and, in many cases, to help them prevail. To learn more about how we help injured parties go up against retail giants such as Big Lots, and to see what we can do for you, schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.

Common Slip and Fall Injuries

Slip and fall injuries are much more severe than most people give them credit for being. Falls can result in serious and costly injuries and make it difficult for injured parties to move around, care for themselves or earn an income.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five falls results in a broken bone or head injury. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among all age groups. Falls are also the leading cause of hip fractures in older adults, accounting for as much as 95% of cases.

To say that falls are dangerous is an understatement. In addition to head injuries and hip fractures, falls can result in one or more of the following types of injuries:

Bone fractures
Muscle strains
Strains and tears of the ligaments
Bruising and swelling
Back and spinal injuries
Partial or full paralysis

Depending on a person’s age and current health at the time of the fall, a fall can result in fatal injuries. For people who do not sustain injuries in slip and fall accidents, the fear of falling again is real. Many fall victims become so fearful that they avoid doing activities they once enjoyed. They also become less active, which leads to bone weakness, loss of muscle mass and an increased risk of falling in the future.

Fall Injuries Are Costly

Falls are costly. According to the CDC, falls cost individuals and the U.S. government $50 billion in 2015 in medical care costs alone. Individually, falls are also expensive. Many falls require hospitalization, with U.S. hospitals hospitalizing over 800,000 patients a year for fall-related injuries. In any given year, 3 million or more older adults receive care from emergency departments for fall injuries and another 300,000 become hospitalized for hip fractures. The average cost of a three-day hospital stay, without insurance, is $30,000. The cost to set a broken leg is $7,500.These costs do not consider the indirect costs associated with fall injuries, or the costs of ongoing treatment and physical therapy. In addition to having to pay for the initial medical treatment to treat a fall injury, slip and fall victims must deal with lost wages, the cost of in-home care and medical equipment, transpiration costs, costs of in-home help and more.

Damages Available in a Big Lots Slip and Fall Case

The law recognizes that the costs associated with fall injuries can quickly add up. To help victims make up for what they lost because of their injuries, states allow them to make claims for compensatory and non-compensatory damages against the at-fault parties. Though the types of damages you may recover in your claim depend largely on the unique circumstances of your case, you may be able to receive compensation for the following:

All past medical expenses you incurred because of your injuries, as well as anticipated future medical expenses
All past and future lost wages
Compensation for loss of earning potential
Remuneration for disability and disfigurement
Payment for emotional duress, mental anguish, trauma and PTSD
Compensation for physical pain and suffering

If your fall resulted in damage to any of your personal property, such as a smartphone or laptop, you may be able to receive compensation for property damage as well.

Proving Your Slip and Fall Claim Against Big Lots

Proving a slip and fall claim is easier said than done. Unfortunately, despite the existence of obvious injuries, you may struggle to recover compensation for your losses if you cannot prove that the store owner, manager or employees acted negligently, and that said negligence resulted in the accident that caused your injuries. Though an experienced slip and fall attorney can advise you of what evidence you need to build up your claim, plan to gather the following items from the get-go:

Photos of your injuries and other damages
Pictures of the area in Big Lots in which you fell
The contact information or statements from eyewitnesses
A copy of the incident report you file with Big Lots (which you should remember to file)
A copy of the video footage from Big Lots (which you should request)

Beyond gathering this information, there are several other things you should do following your slip and fall incident that can help to bolster your claim. As a primary example, you should seek medical care immediately, even if you think you are okay. The longer you wait to seek a diagnosis and treatment, the more your claim will suffer. This is because insurers may try to claim that you did not sustain your injuries in the fall at Big Lots at all but rather, off store premises and perhaps in your own home. Request medical records and bills from your health care provider to give to your attorney.

Speaking of attorney … You should strongly consider hiring a personal injury lawyer who has experience going up against large corporations such as Big Lots. An attorney can determine whether you have a viable claim and, if you do, help you avoid costly mistakes and delays.

Statute of Limitation on Slip and Fall Cases in Connecticut

Regardless of how strong of a case you have, the courts may throw it out if you fail to file your claim within the statute of limitations. In Connecticut, the statute of limitations on slip and fall claims is two years from the date of the incident. If the fall caused damage to your personal property, you also have two years from the date of the fall to file a claim for compensation.

Connect With Our Big Lots Slip and Fall Attorney

If you slipped and fell at Big Lots, and if you sustained one or several injuries in the process, you may have a claim for compensation. It costs you nothing to find out. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with Gould Injury Law today.

If you suffered injuries due to a slip and fall at any of the following commercial establishments, our personal injury attorneys could help with your case:

Sources:

CDC - Older Adulr Fall Prevention

Nolo:
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/connecticut-slip-and-fall-laws.html